The broadcast networks are devoting hours of airtime to today’s Super Tuesday primaries, which may begin to seem more like the actual presidential election thanks to the copious amount of coverage slated for prime time.

“The best program on television tonight is going to be Super Tuesday – no entertainment show is going to be able to match it for sheer suspense,” said CBS “Face the Nation” host anchor Bob Schieffer.

Three of the four big networks are scrapping most of their regular prime-time lineups for state-by-state coverage of the races.

“The challenge is going to be to try and explain this all in a way people can understand,” Schieffer said.

The only substantial competition will come from Fox, which is keeping its regularly scheduled edition of “American Idol.”

“If you had to pick just one political story to go up against ‘American Idol,’ this is it,” said Schieffer.

ABC is devoting its entire prime time to the primaries, starting at 8 p.m. Beginning at the same time, CBS will offer special reports, followed by two hours of election coverage at 9 p.m.

NBC is taking a more conservative approach, with a network special at 10 p.m. and more in-depth coverage on MSNBC, starting at 6 p.m. CNN and Fox News Channel also are devoting the bulk of today’s airtime to the primaries.